Key facts
- France is experiencing a judicial crisis following the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna.
- The crisis stems from alleged failures in the justice system's handling of sexual violence cases against children.
- Protests have occurred nationwide, with demonstrators demanding increased funding and systemic reform.
- The suspect in Lyhanna's murder had prior allegations of rape against him that were not fully investigated.
- The justice minister has ordered a review of 70,000 child violence complaints.
- The government plans to examine new legislation concerning sexual and sexist abuse.
France is grappling with a judicial crisis following the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna, a case that has exposed significant failings in the state's handling of sexual violence allegations against children. The tragedy has ignited widespread protests and political debate, with calls for increased funding and systemic reform of the justice system.
Lyhanna disappeared on May 29 near Fleurance and her body was found a week later in a disused grain silo. The suspect, 41-year-old Jérôme Barella, a father of one of Lyhanna's classmates, has denied the killing. Outrage grew when it emerged that Barella had been reported to police multiple times for alleged rapes of girls in recent years but had not been arrested or questioned.
One mother, identified as Audrey, who had previously reported Barella for alleged rapes of her daughter, announced her intention to sue the state and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin for the failure to act. Audrey claimed Barella had manipulated her daughter to prevent her from speaking out. Her lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, described some investigators as "catastrophic" and "lazy."
Justice Minister Darmanin acknowledged "huge failures" but rejected calls for his resignation, ordering a review of 70,000 legal complaints concerning violence against children. However, the lawyer for Lyhanna's family, François Roujou de Boubée, expressed skepticism about the review's credibility given the justice system's resource constraints. He emphasized that the family trusts the justice system but stressed the need for more resources rather than blaming individual investigators.
Yaël Braun-Pivet, leader of the National Assembly, stated that "France has collectively failed" and that the problem is "systemic." Other political figures, including Marine Le Pen and Clémence Guetté, also called for reflection and increased resources for the justice system.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting to discuss new legislation on sexual and sexist abuse. Meanwhile, a magistrates' union representative highlighted that French judicial professionals are overwhelmed, with significantly fewer prosecutors compared to the European average. Protests have drawn tens of thousands, with survivors of childhood sexual violence expressing anger at the system's inaction.